Canadian authorities say more than one grizzly bear may have been involved in a deadly attack on a mother and daughter on the country’s west coast.
Investigators discovered the remains of art therapist Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed shortly after their family reported them missing from Bella Coola, British Columbia on Sunday.
Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed on a hike. (Supplied)
Jeff Tyre, an inspector at the province’s Conservation Officer Service, said any bears captured would be assessed.
He advised hikers to stay away from the trail where the attack happened.
Mr Tyre said efforts to capture the bear or bears involved in the attack continued and any captured animals would be killed in accordance with provincial guidelines.
“It’s not yet clear if more than one bear was involved,” he said.
A fundraiser set up by relative Mary Melissa Smith said Ms Reed was 20 “with her whole life ahead of her”.
The fundraiser has so far raised about 60 per cent of the $CAD70,000 ($71,500) target.
She said Ms Balcarras, a mother and grandmother, had recently moved to Bella Coola to pursue a new career.
Ms Balcarras is survived by a son, two daughters and a grandson who now are “faced with the devastating loss”, Ms Smith said.
Jenny Balcarras recently moved to Bella Coola, where she worked as a school counsellor. (GoFundMe: Mary Melissa Smith)
The Central Coast Teachers’ Association said on social media that Ms Balcarras joined their school community as a counsellor in August.
She devoted “countless hours to connecting with the students she served and worked closely with teachers and other staff supporting their wellbeing”, the post read.
Jenny Balcarras with her family, including daughter Selah Reed. (Supplied)
The attack comes almost a year after a grizzly bear attack on 20 elementary school students and teachers in the same area left one adult and three children badly hurt.
The animal involved in that attack was never captured.
Bella Coola is well-known for its large population of grizzly and black bears.
Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety & More Inc in Calgary, said bears were often seen near residential areas in Bella Coola.
She said the loss of bear habitat, combined with food stress caused by a drought, were leading to more conflicts with people.
AP
Source: www.abc.net.au
